Category Archive for: Assemblies

COM components used the registry to configure components. Configuration of .NET applications is done by using configuration files. With registry configurations, an xcopy deployment is not possible. Configuration files can simply be copied. The configuration files use XML syntax to specify startup Q.Q runtime settings for applications. This section explores the following: What you can configure using the…

Assemblies can be isolated for use by a single application – not sharing an assembly is the default. When using shared assemblies there are specific requirements that must be followed. This section explores the following: Strong names as a requirement for shared assemblies Global assembly cache Creating shared assemblies Installing shared assemblies in the GAC Delayed…

Before .NET,processes were used as isolation boundaries, with every process having its private virtual memory; an application running in one process could not write to the memory of another application and thereby crash the other application. The process was used as an isolation and security boundary between applications. With the .NET architecture you have a new boundary for…

During development time you add a reference to an assembly so it gets included with the assembly references and the types of the assembly are available to the compiler. During runtime the referenced assembly gets loaded as soon as a type of the assembly is instantiated or a method of the type is used. Instead of using this…

Now that you know what assemblies are, it is time to build some. Of course, you have already built assemblies in previous chapters, because a .NET executable counts as an assembly. This section looks at special options for assemblies. Creating Modules and Assemblies All C# project types in Visual Studio create an assembly. Whether you choose a…

Assemblies are the deployment units of .NET applications .. NET application consist of one or more assemblies .. NET executables with the usual extension EXE or DLL are known by the term assembly. What’s the difference between an assembly and a native DLL or EXE? Though they both have the same file extension, .NET assemblies include metadata that…

An assembly is the .NET term for a deployment and configuration unit. This chapter discusses exactly what assemblies are, how they can be applied, and why they are such a useful feature. In particular, this chapter covers the following topics: Overview Creating assemblies Application domains Shared assemblies Versioning.